We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (Preamble to the United States Constitution)

Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) indicate dating systems before and after a calendar change, respectively. Usually, they refer to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar as enacted in various European countries between 1582 and 1923. (Wikipedia)

But for almost 250 years, most New York City historians either ignored the Great Fire of 1776 or argued for its unimportance. They assumed that the fire was caused either by accident or by apolitical miscreants, and they chose to diminish the reports of outraged eyewitnesses who believed the fire was deliberate. (gothamcenter.org)

A talented and experienced soldier from a family that produced many talented and experienced soldiers, William Howe nonetheless became the scapegoat for the British failure to crush the American Revolution early on. In spite of several crushing victories over General George Washington on the battlefield, Howe’s inability to capture him or completely destroy the Continental Army as a fighting force ultimately led to France’s entry into the war and Britain’s ultimate defeat. (battlefields.org)

Benjamin Carp, author of The Great New York Fire of 1776 (Yale University Press, 2023), believes it was George Washington who ordered New York City burned to the ground as his troops retreated despite the Continental Congress denying him authorization. As evidence of arson, Carp identifies more than 15 distinct ignition points that were reported by witnesses. (Alan Singer)

Because of fire risks, New York’s Provincial government had required that by January 1766 new structures were to be built in brick and roofs made of tile or slate. The regulations were ignored because of cost and the scarcity of materials. (newyorkalmanack.com)

Watson used Grim’s account to exonerate the Americans from the British accusation that Washington’s men had committed an act of incendiarism. The Great Fire of 1776, he wrote, “excited a fear at the time, that the ‘American rebels’ had purposed to oust them, by their own sacrifices, like another Moscow. It is however believed to have occurred solely from accident.” (gothamcenter.org)

Grim must have been shaken by the implication that his citizenship was contingent on his political beliefs. And so he left, as part of his legacy, an account of the Great Fire that was closer to Hobart’s propaganda than Dash’s testimony. Was it the truth, or was it Grim’s way of leaving his Loyalist past behind him? Had Grim spun a fairy tale? (gothamcenter.org)

Grim died in 1826, but his reminiscences were discovered by the banker-historian John Fanning Watson during a visit to New York in 1828. From there, Grim’s tale became a staple: it propagated, through paraphrase and repeated reprintings, in at least twenty historical works over the course of the 19th century. Plenty of other histories ignored the fire entirely. The myth of an accidental fire took hold and became entrenched. (gothamcenter.org)

“If we should be obliged to abandon this town, ought it to stand as winter quarters for the enemy?” he asked John Hancock, the Congress’ president. (Erik Ofgang)

A new book points out that the general was happy when the city burned and expressed regret that more of it was not destroyed during the fire. (Erik Ofgang)

Many circumstances lead to conjecture that Mr Washington was privy to this villainous act as he sent all the bells of the churches out of town under pretence of casting them into cannon, whereas it is much more probable to prevent the alarm being given by ringing of the bells before the fire should get a head beyond the reach of engines and buckets. Besides, some officers of his army were found concealed in the city supposed for this devilish purpose. (Davies, Documents of the American Revolution)

A letter sent from New York to London newspapers accused the rebels of “having placed a large Quantity of Combustibles in the Cellars of several Houses in that Part of the Town called Whitehall” and claimed “William Smith, an Officer in a New England Regiment was taken with a Match in his Hand, and sacrificed on the Spot to the Fury of the Soldiers.” (teachingsocialstudies.org)

Flames are shown engulfing large, elegant buildings as Redcoats are savagely beating up panicked inhabitants, while enslaved people take advantage of the mayhem to loot the blazing buildings. In this depiction too, the architecture is distinctly Continental and derived from European sources. (newyorkalmanack.com)

A second “great” fire — though not nearly as great as the first one — destroyed another 54 houses and “several” — meaning at least three? — warehouses on the night of August 3, 1778. (gothamcenter.org)

He remained a member for his entire life. Later, he became an honorary member of Alexandria Lodge No. 39 and agreed to be its charter master. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial was built in Alexandria, Virginia, as a memorial to him. (Assistant)

A brown suit signifies a mix of sophistication, approachability, and confidence, moving away from the extreme formality of black or navy. It suggests a person who is trustworthy and grounded, while also being stylish and willing to deviate from tradition. (Assistant)

British officers and their Loyalist allies reported these facts and other evidence through their channels of news and intelligence, arguing that the rebels — including General George Washington himself — were incendiaries who had perpetrated a villainous and atrocious act. (gothamcenter.org)

The story of Americans participating in the burning of New York has been suppressed in all American histories from that day to this. (William Henry Shelton, 1929)

Americans were, in other words, encouraged to remember the Great Fire in a certain way. They developed a myth of American exceptionalism and tried to make New York City’s experience as a British garrison fit within that myth. (gothamcenter.org)

Larry Kramer's recent novel, The American People: Volume 1: A Search for My Heart, has got tongues wagging again about which great men in American history were gay. In interviews, as well as in the book, Kramer has claimed that many of the founders, including George Washington, were gay. (Thomas A. Foster)

Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by action rather than words, to convince you that I love you. I shall only tell you that ’till you bade us Adieu, I hardly knew the value you had taught my heart to set upon you....You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent. But as you have done it and as we are generally indulgent to those we love, I shall not scruple to pardon the fraud you have committed. (Alexander Hamilton in letter to fellow officer, John Laurens)

The Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Science was a German scientific institution established in the German Empire in 1911. Its functions were taken over by the Max Planck Society. The Kaiser Wilhelm Society was an umbrella organisation for many institutes, testing stations, and research units created under its authority. (Wikipedia)

Despite strengthening Germany's position as a great power by building a powerful navy as well as promoting scientific innovation within its borders, Kaiser Wilhelm's public pronouncements and erratic foreign policy greatly antagonized the international community and are considered by many to have contributed to the fall of the German Empire. (Wikipedia)

The outbreak of World War II in 1939 was followed by an increase in extent and importance of war relevant research which had been assigned to the institute by various parts of the Wehrmacht. This resulted in close relations with the air force, the army and the navy, and, in the end, the KWIE was declared to be a „Wehrwirtschaftsbetrieb“ - an organisation relevant to the war economy. (Max Planck Institute)

Republican Chris Christie, who chaired Trump's first transition team, said Kushner committed "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he prosecuted. On December 23, 2020, President Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to Kushner, his daughter's father-in-law, citing his record of "reform" and "charity". (Wikipedia)

The "Tiffany Cross" was a specific design for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor, created by Tiffany & Company in 1919 and awarded for combat heroism from 1919 until it was discontinued in 1942. This cross-shaped medal was intended to be given for actions involving "actual conflict with the enemy," while the older star design was for non-combat actions, a two-tiered system that caused confusion and was not widely issued. Only 28 individuals received this rare award, which was replaced by the current star design in 1942. (Assistant)

Later in life, he wrote about an “implacable enemy” who had apparently led to his firing, but historians are unsure of the exact circumstances of the dismissal. (history.org)

Historian William E. Benemann notes, there’s no historical evidence that von Steuben was a pedophile. But he was gay, and homosexuality was viewed as a criminal aberration by many of his peers. “Rather than stay and provide a defense, rather than call upon his friends…to vouch for his reputation, von Steuben chose to flee his homeland,” (history.com)

Benjamin Franklin was a Freemason for 60 years, becoming a member in 1731 in Philadelphia at St. John's Lodge and later serving as the Grand Master of Pennsylvania in 1734. He was deeply involved in Masonic activities throughout his life and was also a member of a prominent lodge in France, La Loge des Neuf Soeurs (The Lodge of Nine Muses), which helped him secure French support during the American Revolution. (Assistant)

Steuben’s bonds with Frederick the Great (who was likely gay), and Frederick’s almost certainly gay brother Prince Henry (1726-1802), meant that he lived and worked in an environment where some same-sex relationships were open secrets. In Europe and in the United States, attitudes towards same-sex relationships varied widely. Discretion remained a necessity, however, as even a whisper of same-sex attraction could destroy a person’s reputation. (amrevmuseum.org)

Baron von Steuben’s sexuality has long puzzled historians and researchers. Steuben never married and his connection to likely gay members of the Prussian royal family, as well as his affectionate letters to his Revolutionary War aides-de-camp William North and Benjamin Walker, provide circumstantial evidence that he might have been gay. (amrevmuseum.org)

Von Steuben is believed by some historians to have been openly homosexual by 18th century standards. (newyorkalmanack.com)

Steuben’s charming and charismatic behavior endeared him to his fellow soldiers and friends but his close and cherished relationships with men caused people to wonder about his sexuality. (newyorkalmanack.com)

Baron von Steuben was a Freemason. He became a Mason in a Prussian military lodge called Blazing Star and later became a member of Holland Lodge and Trinity Lodge in New York after coming to America. Notable associate: He signed a letter from Holland Lodge to George Washington in 1789, granting the first President honorary membership in the lodge. The Baron Steuben Lodge #264 is located at 5559 Lee Center-Taberg Road Lee Center, New York. (Assistant)

The original monument was replaced in 1870-1871 by the more imposing one which now marks the final resting place of this Patriot. It was financed by a State grant and by a public subscription, mainly by citizens of German decent in this country. (mastermason.com)

Generally, Von Steuben Day takes place in September in many cities throughout the United States during which participants march, dance, wear German costumes and play German music. (Answers)

His program greatly increased the morale and strengthened the army. He authored the "Blue Book," which still remains a basic reference for military training and organization. (newyorkalmanack.com)

Archeological studies indicate intermittent Native Americans presence since 6,000 BC. The land on which the house stands was purchased from the Wappinger Native Americans by two fur traders, Francis Rombout and Gulian Verplanck on August 8, 1683. In exchange for 85,000 acres (344 square kilometers) of land, they paid about 1,250 dollars in goods. (Wikipedia)

Archaeological evidence suggests it was probably enlarged around 1767 and the characteristic gambrel roof as well as two porches were added between this year and the American Revolutionary War. (Wikipedia)

To their astonishment, the men saw two figures in the room, dressed in attire from the 1700s. One figure, a man, was hunched over a writing desk, while the other, a woman, held a candle above his head, illuminating his work. As they peered through the flickering flames, it became clear that the man was hurriedly writing an important document. The atmosphere was tense; the woman repeatedly lowered the candle to provide better light as its flame dimmed. (sleepyhollowcountry.com)

Who were these two figures? What was the man so urgently writing? The history and legends of the Verplanck family, who built the house, offer no answers. The mysterious figures were never seen before, and the question remains: were they spectral remnants of a secret room used long ago by Von Steuben? No one knows, and even the stone walls that survived the blaze have since been torn down. (sleepyhollowcountry.com)

A 1914 article in House Beautiful magazine offered two versions of the Spook Field legend. The first mirrored the tale of the Hessian soldier, adding that his ghost “floats about in an unearthly fashion.” The article also introduced a second spectral figure, this time a Native American. (sleepyhollowcountry.com)

The ghost of this Native American was said to haunt the field at twilight, forever lingering where he met his untimely end. (Jim Logan)

He is a Gentleman of Family, Merit and great experience… (Benjamin Franklin)

He arrived at Valley Forge in February 1778, where he "fell in love" with the army and the "cause of liberty," transforming from a "conman" seeking a position into a true "believer" in the American cause. (Assistant)

Grim was a treasurer of the Lutheran Church (which had lost its building in the great Fire — Grim rented the ruin as a storehouse) and became president of the German Society in 1795. Grim held leadership positions in the Chamber of Commerce and the Mutual Assurance Company. He helped manage and owned shares in the Tontine Coffee House, a precursor to the New York Stock Exchange, and was president of the short-lived Bread Company, a monopolistic effort to break a bakers’ strike (until its building burned down). (gothamcenter.org)

And so he left, as part of his legacy, an account of the Great Fire that was closer to Hobart’s propaganda than Dash’s testimony. Was it the truth, or was it Grim’s way of leaving his Loyalist past behind him? Had Grim spun a fairy tale?(gothamcenter.org)

Grim’s shipping operations grew from there, but when the New York Chamber of Commerce passed a resolve in favor of the Jay Treaty in July 1795, “A REPUBLICAN” took to the Argus newspaper to attack the meeting’s attendees for their continued attachment to King George III. Most of them, “A Republican” acidly pointed out, weren’t “real Americans,” but were in fact “inimical to this country in the late war” or recent immigrants. The writer knew that David Grim (among others) had “resided within the British lines during the whole war.” (gothamcenter.org)